Device for removing sediment from the bottoms of tanks



(No'Model.) l Y v J. E. PATTISN.

DEVICE P0P. RBMOVING SBDIMBNT PROM THE BoTroMs 0F TANKS,

G IsTB-RNS, 6m. Y No. 307,323. Patented Oct. 28, 1884.

ATTEST.

iNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. PATTISON, OF NEW" ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING SEDIIVIENT FROM 4THE BOTTOMS 0F TANKS, CISTERNS, dc.

UFECIFCATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,323, dated October28, 1884.

Application tiled October 2, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern: i

Be it known that I, J enr.T E, PATTIsoN, of New Orleans, in theparish ofOrleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Re moving Sediment from the Bottoms ofTanks, Cisterns, &e. of which the following is a speciviication.

This invention is especially adapted to remove the sediment from thebottoms of tanks or cisterns situated below the surface of the groundfor containing water, sugar-j nice, wine, or any other liquid, and fromwhich the sediment cannot readily be drawn olf without the removal ofall the contents of the eisteru or tank.

To this end ,my invention consists in the provision, at the end of ahollow staff of such length as to adapt it to extend to the bottom oftheicistern or tank, of ahollow head having a brush or scraper forloosening the sediment from the bottom, and a door adapted to beoperated from the top of the cistern or tank to admit the flow ofsediment within the hollow head under pressure ofthe superincumbent massof liquid.` A float within the head connected toa wire or rod extendingthrough the hollow staff serves to notify the operator when the head isfull of sediment and should be withdrawn from the cistern. l

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure I is a vertical transverse section of my improved device forremoving sediment. Fig. Il is a side elevation of the same.

Y l represents the staff, preferably made in the form shown, havingseveral joints or sections capable of being joined together by ferrulesor rings 1, which may be smooth or adapted to screw to place onthemeeting ends of the sections ofthe staff, to adapt the apparatus tocisterns or tanks of any depth. The said staff is hollow and opensfatits lower end into a chamber within the head 2, to the top of which itis secured by a screw-collar, 3. rIhe walls of the head 2 are preferablyconstructed in the form here shown of metal or wood. The head isprovided at the bottom with a hinged door, Il, which has at or near itsmiddle apin7 (No model.)

5, screwed or otherwise fixed thereto. The lower end of the staff 1 andthe upper end of pin 5 are connected by a universal joint in suchamanner that bythe raising or lowering of the staff (which is effectedby screwing it up or down in the head) the door 4 may be opened orclosed. Then in 'its closed position, said door bears on a' rubber orother water-tight packing on a frame, 6, in-the inside of the head 2, soas to make a water-tight joint. One of the lower edges, 7, of the head 2is made to project somewhat below the level of the surrounding portion,so as to form a bearing for a scraper or brush, S. A slot, 9, in thelower end of staff 1 permits the egress ofairinto and through saidstaff. With-in the said slot also travels a cross bar, 10, fixed toafloat,11. To the center of the said cross-bar is fixed a wire or rod,12, projecting up through the central hollow space in the staff, of suchdiameter as not to interfere with the free passage of air through saidstaff.

The following is the operation of my invention: The staff 1 having firstbeen screwed up so as to firmly close the door 4 and convert the headinto a water-tight chamber, the said head is lowered into a tank orcistern until it reaches the bottom thereof, the door then being openedby screwing down the staff to such an extent as to permit the ilow ofsediment through the passage thus formed into the hollow head. Inrushing in, the sediment will force out the air contained in said head,which air will rise through the center of the staff and escape. Theimplementis then moved slowly forward,

keeping the aperture in the head in front of and a little above thebrush or scraper. The sediment, being banked up by the scraper, will beforced up into the interior ofthe head by the superincumbent mass ofwater until the air shall all have been expelled and the head be full ofsediment. Vhen the water in the head reaches the float 11, said floatwill of course be carried 'upward thereby until it 95 IOO ing the topol' the chamber, and that when said rod ceases to rise the water is atthe top or within such a short distance thereof that by the time hecloses the door the chamber will be full. Then sufcient sediment hasthus been collected, the door 4 is closed by screwing up the staif l,the implement removed from the liquid, and the sediment allowed to runout by screwing down the staff and opening the door.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. Adevice for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns, tanks,&c., consisting of a hollow head having an opening, a door for closingthe same, and one common handle for manipulating said hollow head anddoor, and

means for permitting the exit of the air therefrom, as set forth.

2. A device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns, tanks,&c., consisting of a hollow head having a door, and a hollow staff formanipulating said head and door, and ai"- fording means for the escapeof air from said hollow head, as set forth.

3. In a device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks, &c., the combination of a hollow head, a hollow sta'li'verticallyadj ustable in saidhead, a door, and means for opening andclosing said door at the will oi' the operator, as set forth.

+L.. In a device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks, ttc., the combination, with a hollow head having a door, and ahollow staff for the purposes set forth, of a scraper or brush, arrangedand operating as described.

5. In a device l'or removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks, &c., the combination, with a hollow head having a hollow staff,of means, substantially as described, for announcing the height of thesediment in the hollow head, as set forth.

(i. In a device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks, &c., the combination, with a hollow head having a hollow staii,of a 'fioat having a rod extending upward therefrom through said hollowstaff, as'and `for the purposes set forth.

7. In a device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks` &c., the combination, with a hollow head having a door, ol" astaff adjustable in said head, and having connection by a universaljoint with said door, substantially as set forth.

S. In a device for removing sediment from the bottoms of cisterns,tanks, &c., the conibination, with a hollow head having a door, ofastai'i" connected with said door, and adapted to be screwed into saidhead, as and i'or the purpose set forth.

JOHN E. IPATTISON.

NVitiiesses:

Jas. TYiLrN, H. M. HvAMs.

